The Senior Manager, M&A, Governance & Adoption reports directly to the S/4 Sustainment, Governance, and Adoption Lead. As a member of Hershey Business Platforms (HBP), this position plays a key role in driving HBP results towards the company’s Leading Snacking Powerhouse (LSP) How We Work and future HBP strategic visions. This role will serve as both the “Pre” and “Due-Diligence” Merger & Acquisition (M&A) lead, and Service Delivery integration lead for HBP.

In support of company M&A initiatives, the Sr Mgr, M&A, Governance & Adoption will lead the HBP “Pre” and “Due-Diligence” assessment of any new M&A target, working closely with the Corporate M&A PMO office to assess business process and personnel needs during the evaluation. If a potential M&A target proceeds through diligence towards acquisition, the role will partner and collaborate with the HBP Service Delivery Leadership team, HBP Strategy & PMO group, and HBP leaders to lead the post-merger integration into the overall HBP organization.

When not engaged in an M&A effort, the role will support business process sustainment, governance, and adoption efforts. In this role, the Sr Mgr, M&A, Governance & Adoption will collaborate with members of the HBP Sustainability and Governance team, IS, HBP Global Process Owners (GPO), Service Deliver Leaders, HBP PMO & Strategy team, business and HBP teams to successfully govern business processes. The Sr Mgr, Business Integration & M&A will be required to understand the business, HBP and IS strategy and vision, provide strategic and thought leadership, and execute process priorities of new work, driving results towards and in accordance with LSP and HBP strategic plans.

HBP M&A Diligence & Execution

Through collaboration with Corporate M&A PMO, serve as HBP lead for M&A targets during Diligence phases, assessing the targeted business’ processes and associated resources versus HBP process and resource needs. Upon post-merger, lead successful integration of the M&A target into HBP Service Delivery.

• Serve as HBP lead through all M&A stages in accordance with the Corporate M&A Project Management Office (PMO)
• Lead and manage the HBP Due Diligence process, collaborating with cross-functional teams to analyze risks and opportunities associated with any potential M&A target, including people, process and technology requirements, ensuring requirements are evaluated, summarized and communicated to the Corporate M&A PMO
• Develop and execute integration plans for M&A transactions, ensuring adherence to timelines and budgets, overseeing HBP cross-functional teams to facilitate the post-merger integration process, ensuring a seamless transition and realization of synergies
• Collaborate with the Sustainment, Governance, and Adoption organization to ensure any M&A target is incorporated into broader sustainability goals
• Provide regular communication updates to HBP and M&A PMO stakeholders

Business Process Governance & Sustainability

In alignment with the HBP Sustainability and Governance strategic direction, partner with IS, HBP Global Process Owners (GPO), Service Deliver Leaders, HBP PMO & Strategy team, business and HBP teams to successfully govern global, standard business processes.

• Collaborate with the Sustainability, Governance and Adoption team to understand and help prioritize changes to the S/4 technical landscape (upgrades, enhancements), including upgrades/enhancements, the GPO strategic roadmap, Service Delivery continuous improvement projects, and Super User Network input
• Oversee Service Delivery project portfolio of new work, ensuring required project deliverables are known, communicated and tracked towards successful integration
• In partnership with Global Process Owners, Service Delivery leaders, and the HBP PMO & Strategy groups, identify project requirements, including people, process, technology and governance needs for successful integration

Relationship Management & Leadership

Provide framework where employees (current and new) can thrive and grow while delivering services with operational excellence and high customer satisfaction.

• Embody Hershey Leader expectations, cultivating a desired team on which to work or join, resulting in favorable and improving MVOH scores
• Take an active role in the development of others, including giving timely, honest and “actionable” feedback
• Communicate clear and consistent messages, relying upon data and facts to advocate a position and overcome objections

Industry Expertise in Business/Shared Services

• Maintain or expand knowledge of industry best practices, technologies and ways of working
• Actively engage with internal stakeholders, external partners, user groups, and experts to incorporate best practices into Hershey’s operating model for the Hershey Business Platforms organization

You will interact and partner with these teams –

• HBP Global Process Owners
• HBP Service Delivery
• Information Systems (IS)
• Supply Chain, Finance, and other cross-functional business units

The ideal candidate for this role would possess –

• Proven experience prioritizing and managing multiple projects/areas of responsibility simultaneously
• Ability to liaise with senior level external supplier and internal stakeholder representatives in a rational and measured manner to communicate progress, issues, risks and solutions
• Proven ability to establish collaborative relationships with Senior Leaders and key business stakeholders across The Hershey Company
• Ability to develop efficient and effective solutions to diverse and complex business problems
• Ability to adapt and evolve methodologies and procedures in a controlled manner to continually improve the delivery and support channels
• Proven ability to provide clear, concise communication to Senior Leaders
• Strong team builder, change agent, and motivator
• High-energy, self-starter

To qualify for this role, you must possess –

• 10+ years business experience
• At least 5+ years proven experience in successfully delivering high quality solutions in high pressure, structured environments using standard project management techniques and disciplines; 7+ years preferred
• At least 5+ years demonstrated competency in strategic thinking and leadership with strong abilities in relationship management; 7+ years preferred